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Buffalo City council asks alderperson to resign or face DA referral over undisclosed vehicle gift
Summary
At its Aug. 11 meeting the Buffalo City Common Council directed the city attorney to draft a letter giving an alderperson the option to resign or face referral to the District Attorney after the alderperson failed to produce proof of purchase for a vehicle allegedly received as a gift, raising recusal and conduct concerns under Wisconsin Statute 19.45.
Mayor Ben Holien and members of the Buffalo City Common Council discussed allegations that an alderperson accepted a vehicle as a gift and did not provide proof of purchase, a matter the council tied to Wisconsin Statute 19.45 on standards of conduct.
Ald. Jeannie Czaplewski said the acceptance of the vehicle was one issue, but that the alderperson should have recused himself from all discussion and votes related to the matter. “The gift was one thing but then the alderperson should have recused himself from all discussion and action on any items pertaining to the matter,” Czaplewski said.
Councilmember Kim Beseler said holding a council position carries responsibilities to the city and its citizens and that the situation “can make the full council look bad,” arguing the council needs to address the matter. George Fuller said there were opportunities to resolve the issue that were not taken.
Holien told the council he and City Attorney Terry Madden met with the alderperson in April and that Madden had asked the alderperson to provide a proof-of-purchase receipt to clear up the matter; the receipt was not provided. Holien presented the council with two options: the alderperson could resign, or the council could pursue charges by referring the case to the District Attorney. The alderperson’s name was not disclosed during the meeting.
All alderpersons in attendance asked the city attorney to draft a letter offering those options and indicating that, if the alderperson did not resign, the council would consider pursuing a referral to the District Attorney. The council did not record a formal criminal charge or file during the meeting; the next procedural step is the drafting and delivery of the letter by the city attorney.
No formal vote on criminal referral was taken at the meeting. City Attorney Terry Madden, who was named during the discussion as having met with the alderperson in April, will prepare the letter for council review and signatures.
